Shoe machine



F. A. BEARDON SHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION man SEPT. 25. 1am.

1A18,73'6.- v I PatentedJune 6,1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR WITNESS I Fred ,4. flea/don M W v ATI'dRNEY F -A. REARDON. SHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED PT-2.5. 1918;

1,418,736. Patent d un 6,' 1922.

' 5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- 20 20 39 K f w 32 40 2.9 I

WITNESS INVENTOR (76 I I I F67 4 Rea/don F. A. REARDON.

SHOE MACHINE. APPLICATION H LED SEPT- 25, I918.

BMw

INVENTOR A fieal'a'on snz s-snssr 4.

Fr'e

BY ORNEY Patented June 6, 1922.

mag

F.A.REARDON.

SHOE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 25. I918.

PatentedJune 6, 1922.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

INVENTOR TI'ORNEY NlTEfi STATES @ATENT OFFEQE,

FIRED A. REARDON, OF HAVERI-IILL, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO I-IAIVIEL SHOE MACHINERY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

SHOE rmcnnvn.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patentgd J 6 1922 Application filed September 25, 1918. Serial No. 255,672.

T 0 all 10h am it may cancer-n Be it known that I, FRED A. Brannon, a citizen of the United States, residing at Havel-hill, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoe Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom panying drawings. d

This invention relates to shoe machines and more specifically to machines for applying a fluid such as coloring ink or cement to the surface of shoe soles.

In the manufacture of turn and McKay shoes it is customary to prepare the outersole preparatory to attaching the same to the upper by applying blacking or color to the upper surface of the sole adjacent theouter edge thereof, as it is difficult in these types of shoe to color this edge, which projects beyond the upper, after the attachment of the upper to the same, owing to the narrowness of the crease between the edge of the sole and the upper. This operation is usually performed by hand, the operator using for this purpose a brush, commonly an ordinary tooth brush, which he dips into a pan of ink and then applies by a continuous motion to the surface of the sole adjacent the edge and following the contour of the same. This mode of applying the color necessarily consumes a considerable amount of time, as the operator is obliged to move his brush along .the edge of the sole throughout its entire extent, and although machines have been devised for performing the above operation, so far as is known most such'machines have proven unsatisfactory in commercial use, for several reasons, among which may be mentioned, slowness of operation, failure to apply the fluid at the proper places without daubing it upon parts at which it is not desired, and complicationof operative elements,with the attendant increased cost of upkeep.

The present invention comprises .mechanism adapted to apply fluid to the surface of a shoe sole simultaneously along its opposite lateral edges, thus'securing a high speed of operation, said mechanism includ ing a pair of independent, oppositely disposed rotary fluid-applying devices are ranged to move toward and away from each other in following the contour of the sole,

but to move into close proximity to each other whereby to form in effect a single centrally disposed fluid-applying device in operating upon the heel and toe portions of the sole.

The invention further consists in the provision of means for so supporting and guidmg the fluid-applying devices that they are caused to closely follow the contour of the the provision of means for receiving the sole upon the completion of theoperat-ion.

Another feature of theinvention resides in the provision of adjusting means for the feeding and fluid-applying devices whereby to compensate for wear of the parts which may be occasioned during their continued operations, as well as for variations in the character of the material operated upon.

The invention also embodies improved drive mechanism whereby the various operative elements are moved at suitablerelative velocities, and wherebythe fluid apply ing devices are permitted to move freely in following the sole edge.

Other and additional objects and advan ta together with improved con'ibiimtions of parts and details of construction will be hereinafter pointed out and distinctly claimed, reference being had to the annexed drawings for a complete disclosure of a preferred form of the Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine; 1 1g. 21s an elevation of the right hand Side of the machine invention and in .which, I

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 33 I f Fig. 1; a

Fig. 4k is a transverse, vertical section on the line tl of Fig. 1,-looking toward the front of the machine;

.- Fig. 5 rise transverse, vertical section on line 5-5 of Fig. 1, looking toward the rear of the machine;

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view to enlarged scale of parts shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a vertical, sectional detail to enlarged scale, taken on line 7-7 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a plan view to enlarged scale showing details of the feed mechanism, and

Figs. 9, 10 and 11 are a series of diagrammatic views illustrating the operation of the machine.

l is the frame of the machine comprising portions 2 forming legs, these legs being provided with outwardly extending flanges 3 having openings l, whereby the frame may be bolted to a bench or other suitable supporting structure. lfrojecting outwardly from the right hand face of the frame are a pair of bosses 5, 6 (Fig. 2) providing jonr" nal bearings for a drive shaft 7. Fixed upon the forward extremity of the shaft 7 is a tight pulley 8 and a loose pulley 9 adapted to be driven from any suitable source of power by a belt of ordinary form. 10 isa bracket projecting fromthe forward face of the frame and serving to support a belt shifter 11, which may be of any usual and known construction. Fast upon the rear extremity of the shaft 7 is a worm gear 12. 13 is a shaft extending transversely across the frame, and having bearings near its opposite extremities in said frame, said shaft being provided, near its right hand end and outside the frame, with a worm wheel 1'1 meshing with the worm 12 on the shaft 7 and being driven thereby. Fixedupon theouter right hand extremity of the shaft 13 is a grooved pulley 15, the purpose of which will be hereinafter described.

Fast to the shaft 13 at its central. portion is a knurled feed roll 16, and 1) the top of which projects upwardly through an opening 17 provided in the upper surface of the frame 1. Rising from the upper surface of the frame 1, and adjacent the ends of the roll 16, are a pair of brackets 18, 18, said brackets providing guideways for vertically slidable blocks 19, 19*, respectively. 20, 2O are a pair of rods fixed to the respective blocks 19, 19 and extending upwardly through openings in the upper portions of the brackets 18, B -springs 21 being interposed between the upper surface of each of said blocks and itsbracket, and surrounding the respective rods. Theupper ends of the rods 20, 20 are screw threaded for engagement with adjusting nuts 22, 22 respectively, whereby the height of the blocks 19, 19 may be varied. The blocks 19, 19 are provided with journal bearings for a second roll 23 cooperating with the roll 16 to feed the work forward toward the operating instrumentalities in a manner to be hereinafter set forth. By reason of the interposition of the springs 21 between the blocks and the brackets, the upper roll 23 is permitted automatically to adjust itself in accordance with inequalities or variations in the thickness of the work.

Pivotally supported upon the upper surface of the frame and forward of the rolls 1G and 23, are a pair of guide members 2 k, 24?, respectively, said members being pivoted upon pins 25, 25, respectively, the rear extremities of said guides being urged toward each other by means of springs 26, 26,- stop members 27, 27 serving to limit such movement.

Slightly to the rear of the shaft 13, the frame is provided with openings 28 in its lateral surfaces, brackets 29 and 30 extending across said openings and providing journal bearings for vertically disposed pivot pins 31, constituting pivotal supportin means for bracket members 32. The pivot pins 31 are slightly longer than the vertical height of the brackets 32, a slight vertical adjustment of the brackets upon their pivot pins thus being permitted. J LS the construction, mode of mounting and of operation of the brackets 32 is substantially identical, itis, there fore, necessary to describe but one of these devices in detail.

32 is a lever member centrally pivoted as at 32 within. the frame, and having its forward extremity at 32 located beneath and acting to support the bracket 32. Engaging the forward extremity of said lever 32 upon its upper edge is an adjustable set screw 32 provided with a knurled fingerengaging portion 32 projecting above the upper surface of the frame 1. By manipulation of the set screws 32 the brackets 32. upon opposite sides of the machine, may be vertically adjusted independently of each other for the purpose of taking up wear in the brushes, or for initially setting the brushes in accordance with the character of the work being operated upon.

Fixed upon the shaft 13 within the frame and adjacent the lateral portions thereof, are a pair of worm gears 33, said gears being arranged for engagement with a pair of worm wheels 3% loosely mounted upon the respective pivot pins 31. Associated with the gears 34: are a pair of worm wheels 35 also loosely mounted upon the pivot pins 31, and which may be integral with the gears 34 or fixedly connected therewith in any suitable manner. Each bracket 32 comprises an upper arm 36, and a lower arm 37, having journal openings therein for the reception of the pivot pin 31. The upper arm 36 of the bracket is provided with a channel 38 providing a guideway wherein is slidably mounted a secondary bracket or supporting member 39, said secondary bracket or supporting member being held in proper relation within the channel 38 by means of a removable cover plate 40 secured to the arm 36 of the bracket member 32, as by means of screws 41. The arms 36 of the respective brackets 32 are arranged to extend in opposite directions from their pivot pins 31 and normally to lie in alignment with their free extremities adjacent one another. I

The free extremity of the secondary bracket 39 is formed with an enlarged head portion 42 providing spaced apart bearings 43, 44, in which is fixed a pivot pin 45, said pivot pin serving torotatablysupport a guide roll 46, the purposecof which will be hereinafter described. The member 39 is extended downwardly at 42 below the en larged head portion 42, and is forked. at its lower end and provided with a journal hearing 47. The bracket 32 has a downawrdly extending member 48 providing a journal opening 49 in alignment with the journal bearing 47, and journaled in these openings is a hollow shaft or sleeve 50, said sleeve being provided with flanges 51, 52 located upon opposite sides of the member 42 and serving to retain the hollow shaft or sleeve in proper relation to its bearings.

53 is a journal opening formed in the bracket 32 and forming a bearing for a shaft 54, said shaft being. of a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the hollow shaft 50, and being slidable therein. The hollow Shaft or sleeve 50 is provided with a longitudinal slot 55, within which is guided a pin 56 projecting laterally from the shaft 54 near its end, this pin serving to impart movement of rotation to the hollowshaft or sleeve 50 from shaft 54,

while at the same time permitting relative axial sliding movement of these parts. Located within the hollow sleeve is a spring 57, one end of which abuts against the extremity of the shaft 54, while the opposite end seats against a part forming a closure for the end of said hollow shaft and herein shown as integral therewith.

is a spring located above the upper surface ofthe frame, and having one end 66 engaged with the bracket 32 and having the other end 67 seated within an opening in a pin 68 projecting upwardly from the surface of the frame. 69 is a fixed stop suitably carried by the frame, and adapted tolimit the forward swinging movement of the bracket 32 under action of the spring 65, the stop G9 being so arranged that the shaft 54 mounted within the bracket normally lies parallel to j the axis of the feed rolls l6 and 23.

70 is a link pivoted at one extremity at 71 upon a fixed portion of the frame, and having its opposite extremity slotted as at 72 and loosely engaging the pin 45 beneath the enlarged head of the same. By reason of the fact that the bracket: 32 and the'link 7O swing about pivots which'are spaced apart &

from each other, it will be understood that upon swinging movement of the bracket 32 about the pin 31 the member 39 will be constrained to'slide within the channel 38 owing to the engagement of the end of the slot in link 70 with the pin 45, this movement being desirablein the operation of the machjine as will be'hereinafter set forth.

Fixed to the shaft 54 is a worm wheel 58 arranged to mesh with the worm 35, and to be driven by the latter. By the above described arrangement of parts, free swinging movement of the bracket about its pivot pin 31 is permitted, while at the sametime the driving connection between the gear 33 on the shaft 13, and the gear58 on the shaft 54, is maintained. As will be noted from inspection of the drawings the ratio of the train of gears interposed between the shafts l3 and 54 is such that the speedof-ss shaft 54 is much less than that of shaft 13,'it being found in practice that a ratio of speeds of one to twenty is particularly effective. Furthermore,.the gear connection between the shafts 1.3 and 54 carried by the respective brackets 32 is such as to rotate said latter shafts in the same direction and at substantially the same speed.

The hollow shaft orsleeve 55 is provided at its free extremity outside the bearing in member 42 with a circular plate 59, said plate being furnished with suitable openings for the reception of screws, by means of which a brush wheel 60 is firmly fastened thereto. The operative face of this brush wheel is relatively narrow as compared with its diameter, andis adapted, when supplied with cement or suitable coloring material, to apply a narrow band thereof'to a piece of material drawn over the same. The under side of the frame 1 is provided with downwardly extending bracket members 61, (Fig. 3) the lower extremities of which are provided with hooked portions 62. 63 is a pan oropen reservoir for containing the ink, color, or other material with which the brushes are to be supplied, said pan being provided upon its sides with laterally extending pins'64 adapted to be seated within the hooked portion 62 in thebracket 61, the

pan when thus located being held directly .below the brushes and in such position that to the shaft 73. The opening 17 in the upper portion of the frame extends rearwardly to the point 76, and adjacent ,said point 76 is only essential being that these wheels shall be provided withzrelatively sharp, spaced teeth upon their peripheries, the wheels 78,

and 81 being, as herein disclosed, relatively narrow as compared with their diameters. i

82 is a roll having a smooth peripheral surface, said roll being ournaled within the forward extremities of two lever members 83, said lever members being pivoted near their central portions upon upstanding ln'ackets 84:, integral with the frame 'l,and adjacent its rear portion. Each of the lever members is provided near its rear extremity with a downwardly extending pin 85, (Fig. 3) centered within a coiled spring 86, the ends of which bear against the under side of said lever and the upper surface of the frame, respectively, said springs thus serving to resiliently move the roll 82 clownwardly with respect to the upper surface of the frame. The roll. 82 may, if desired, be provided with a central groove 87 aligned.

with the wheel 78, this, however, not being an essential feature of the invention. It will be noted from the drawings, that owing to the difference in diameter of the pulleys 15 and 5, the shaft 73 will be driven at a greater angular velocity than is the shaft 13, which drives the forward feed rolls. The ratio of speeds and diameters of the for ward feed rolls and. of thewheels 80, 78 and S1 is such that the latter tend to feed the material toward the rear of the machine slightly faster than it is advanced by the forward set of rolls.

88 indicates a series of bent wires fixed upon the rearward upper surface of the frame 11., and constituting spaced. apart ribs serving as a recelver for thematerial after treatment, it being desirable to support such material at spaced apart points only, in order to avoid daubing of the material or of the receiving member with the freshly applied fluid carried upon the lower surface of the material.

89 is a guard member of sheet metal or the like fixed to the upper surface of the frame as by means of bolts 90, and extending rearwardly over the upper surface of the roll 23, the forward lower edge 91 of'said guard member being spaced from the upper surface of the frame a sufficient distance only to permit of the feeding of the material i it is moved toward the latter.

to the forward rolls but servingto prevent the operator from being injured by the latter. q i

Pivoted at the point 92 just to the rearof the forward rolls, and slightly below the plane of movement of the work, a guard or gate 93, said guard or gate being held normally in upwardly inclined position by means of a spring 9-lewhich-engages the lower surface thereof. .95 is a second guard pivoted at 96 to the frame upon a horizontal .the angular position of the guard may be adjusted. 99 is a block fast to the upper face of the guard 95 and having lifted thereto a resilient spring finger 100, the lower rearward portion ltltof said finger being arranged for contact with the work the lat ter is'operated uponby the machine, and acting to hold the work down against the operative faceof the lnrusl'ies. The guards 93, 95 serve normally to form a closure between theibrush wheels and the forward feed rolls 16 and 23. thereby serving to prevent spattering of the rolls by the fluid carried upon the brushes during the idle movement of the latter, the spring 94f, however, permitting the free swinging of the guard-93 upon contact of the same with the advancing edge of the material as the latter is fed rearwardly by the feed rolls 16 and 23, said guard, how ever, closing immediately upon the passage 1 of the rear edge of the Work.

The operation of the machine is substantially as follows, referencebeing had partimilarly to Figs. 9to l1 as clearly indicating the arious steps in the operation. I

The operator standing at the front of the machine places a sole with the flesh side tl'iereof iucoutact withthe upper surface of the frame 1 between the guides 534-, ll-j and moves the same forwardly, with either the toe or heel first, beneath the edge of the guard 89 and into position to be gripped. by the rotating, feed rolls 16, 23, the resilient positioning guides 2 24: serving to position the sole centrally of the feed rolls as The feed rolls, upon engaging the sole. move the same rapidly toward the brush wheels 60, which are at this time rotating slowly in a direction opposite to that of the feed rolls. Asfi the sole is moved by the feed rolls,the advancing edge thereof comes in contact with the gate member 93 and depresses the latter, permitting the sole to passbetween the same and the lower edge ofthe guard 95, and into tial stages of contactbeing indicated in 'Fi g.

9, wherein it will be seen that the edges of thesole are in contact with the guide rolls 46, and due to the pressure of the sole-in advancing, the bracket members 32 have to swing slightly out of alignment. 1 Owing to the great variation in the width of asole from its toeto its heel portion, it has been found desirable to mount the brushes not only to swingabout the pivot pins 31, but also to slide. within the brackets 32in the manner abov'e'described, and as at this time the sole is'usually n temper,

that is, more or less moist and has very little transverse rigidity, the links have been employed which immediately, upon swinging-of the brackets 32, serve to positively retract the'slide members 39 and with them the brush wheels away from the path of movement of thetsole, .the brush wheels thus being caused to move apart more rapidly than would be occasioned merely by their swinging movement. The action of these links is particularly desirable in operating upon soles havinground toes, or when the soles are moved with the heel portion first, as soles so presented to the machine enter with some difficulty between the gulde memhers-a6. I

As the sole now feeds over the brush wheels, the guide rolls 46 travel along the outer edge of the sole, and cause the brush wheels engaging" the lowersurface of the sole to follow. a line closelyadjacent. the edge thereof, thereby applying a narrow strip or ribbon of fluid to the surface of the sole following-its contour. By reason of the independent mounting of the brush ,wheels, said wheels are enabled to follow soles, the opposite lateral edgesijof which are unsymmetrical. As the sole is advanced the rolls 4:6, in passing into the shank portion, may permit the brackets to return to their initial position, the slots 72 in the links 70, however, permitting, the slides 39 to remain in retracted position during this portion of the operation, as seen at the left hand side of Fig. 1.1,, the contacting portion of the brush wheel thus moving in sub stantial alignment with the edge of the sole. As the sole furtheradvances,jthe bracket may again swing outwardly in ,movingalong the heel, but as the extremity of the heel passes by the brushes the latter are again allowed to return .to their normal position.

It will be noted from inspection ofFig. 6 that in normal position the active surfaces ;of the brushes are in alignment, and form in effect a single brush, and thus in initiating the above operation both brushes contact simultaneously with the toe portion of the sole, this being true also as the end of the slide members 39. I p

While the, above described mechanism is a the heel portion passes by the brushes, the

the sole is advanced by the rolls 16, 23 and is'passedover the brush wheels the lateral lines of fluid applied to the sole" advancing portion thereof is grippedbe- Y tween the roll 82 and the toothed wheels 80, 78, 8-1, the latter ofwhich engage the flesh side thereof, that is to say, that side to which fluid has been applied. By the use of the spaced apart toothed rolls having narrow contacting faces, spreading or daubing of the fluid over the surface of the sole is avoided,v and, by reasonof the slightly greater speed of feeding of these rolls relative to that of the ,feed rolls, 16, 23,-j'the sole is moved in a positive manner in ,pass'- ing over the brush wheels, thus preventing any sagging of the sole during such movement, the belt drive between the pulleys 74 and 15 providing sufficient slippage to :take care of this difference in speedof theifeed movement, at that period of the operation during which the sole is also the forward set of rolls, i H

During the passage of the sole overthe surface of the brushwheels, the sole is held down in proper engagement. with the-flatter by means of the hold-down finger 100, the

90, I engaged by pressure of which against the same may be regulated by means ofthe stop screw- 98.

As the treated sole-passes out from beneath the roll 82, it is received upon the ribs 88 from which it is removed by'theoperator and placed in a suitable rack, the spacing apart of said I'lbS SGIVlIigftO prevent daubing of the sole or of the name of .the ma- .chine with the freshly applied fluid. I

. If, during the operation of the machine,

it is found that one 'ortlie other'of the brushes 60 contacts too little; or too much with the surface of the sole, such brush may be readily adjusted by means of the screw g .32 whereby uniformjresults upon both edges of the sole maybe readily maintained.

While the machine isparticul'arly adaptedfor applying colorin the form of'fluid ink to the surface of soles, it might also be used for applyingcement thereto, as for example,

in cementing the channels of soles. Further .more, while the machine has been described as arranged for applying fluid coloring material to the sole, it is evident that only slight changes would be necessary'to enable it to apply acoloring material in the form I of powder applied to the brushes or solid color held in any suitable container upon preferred embodiment ,of the invention" is evident that various changes and" modificathe invention, and it is contemplated that all such changes and modifications may be made as will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Havingthus now described. a preferred embodiment of the invention and the mode of operation thereof, whatI claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is,' y

ln'ia sole coloring machine, in combinatiom'a bracket, a pivotal support for the same, a shaft journaled in said bracket, a color-applying device rotatably connected to saidshaft, a gear upon said shaft, a second gear meshing with said first gear and coaxial with said support, and means for rotating said second gear.

2. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a bracket, a fixed pin constituting a pivotal support for said bracket, a shaft journaled in said bracket andhaving a gear fast thereto, a sleeve rotatable upon said pin and provided with a second gear meshing with the gear upon the shaft, a

thirdgear fast to said second gear, a drive shaft, and a gear fast to saiddrive shaft and meshing with said third gear.

In a machine of the class described, in combination, a pivotally mounted bracket, a shaft journaled therein, a supporting mem berslidable in said bracket, a fluid-applying devicemounted for rotation in said support, and driving connections between said device and said shaft constructed and arranged to remain in driving engagement in all positions of the supporting member relative to said bracket.

at. In a shoe machine, in combination, a pivotally mounted bracket having a shaft journaled therein, a hollow shaft or sleeve slid-able upon said shaft and having a longitudinal slot therein, a pin fast in said shaft and engaging said slot, a spring within said hollow shaft or sleeve and bearing against the extremity of said shaft, and

journal means for the hollow shaft or sleeve carried by the bracket.

5. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a support, a shaft journaled therein, means for driving said shaft, a hollow shaft or sleeve slidable upon one extremity of said shaft and rotatably connected therewith, a fluid-applying member fixedly mounted upon said hollow shaft or sleeve and means for supporting and guiding' said sleeve in its sliding movement.

6. In a machine of the class described a bracket mounted to swing in a horizontal plane, a shaft journaled in said bracket, means for constantly drlvlng said shaft, a

sleeve slidable upon said shaft and rotatable therewith, a flui -ap.plying brush fast to the free extremltyef saidsle eve, a supporting member, slidable upon said bracket and providedwitlra journal bearing for the sleeve,

means connecting said sleeve and supporting member for simultaneous slidingmovement, means normally tending to move saidsleeve in one direction and means carried by said supporting member whereby it maybe moved in the opposite direction.

7. In a sole coloring machine, in combina tion, a pivotally mounted bracket, a shaft journaled therein, a sleeve slidable on, but constrained to rotate with said shaft, a colorapplying element fast to said sleeve, a supporting member movably mounted upon said bracket and provided with a journal bearing for the sleeve, means connecting saidsleeve and supporting member for simultaneous movement, means tending normally to move said sleeve in one direction along the shaft, and a guide roll mounted upon'said supporting member and arranged by contact with the edge of a sole to move said sleeve in theopposite direction.

8. In a fiuid-applying machine, in combination, a pair of brackets pivotally mounted to swing in the same plane, and having oppositely directed arms, supporting members slidably mounted upon said arms, inkapplying devices carried upon adjacent portions of said members, meansnormally positioning said devicessubstantially in contact, a pair of rolls carried by the respective members for contact with the opposite edges of a shoe sole, means for feeding a sole between said rolls and thereby acting to swing said brackets in opposite directions and a pair of pivoted links having pin and slot connection with the respective brackets whereby upon swinging of the latter the supporting members are slidably retracted.

9. Ina sole coloring machine, in combination, a rotary fluid-applying brush, means for moving a sole relatively to said brush and into contact therewithto receive a coating of fluid therefrom upon its surface, restraining means for limiting the contact of said brush to that portion of the sole sur face adjacent its edge, and means permitting adjustment of said brush toward and from the sole surface.

10. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a vertical pivot pin forming a support, a bracket swingingly mounted upon said pin and free for limited vertical movement thereon, a lever member having one arm below and in contact with said bracket and serving to support the same, and a manto, means for constantly'rotating said brush,

means to cause said brush to follow the contour of a shoe sole fed across the same by said feed rolls, and a second pair of feed rolls located at the rear of said brush.

12. In a machine of the class described, a fluid-applying device, a' set of feed rolls for advancing thematerial to be operated upon toward said device, a second set of feed rolls for drawing said material away from said device and means for driving said rolls, the speed of the first rolls being less than that of the second set of rolls.

13. In a fluid-applying machine having a rotary fluid applying brush, means for causing said brush to follow the contour of a shoe sole, and means located at the rear of said brush for feeding a sole past the same, said means comprising arelatively narrow toothed roll arranged for contact with the central portion only of a sole, and means for rotating the same.

, 14%. In a feeding device for shoe machines,

a feed roll having a narow; face. arranged for contact with a shoe sole along its central longitudinal portion only, means for driving the same, and a wide-faced pressure roll cooperating therewith.

15. In a machine for applying fluid to the surface of shoe soles, in combination, means for applying fluid to one surface of a sole, and feeding means for the sole, said feeding means comprising a roll. for engagement with the untreated surface of the sole, and a plurality of narrow-faced, toothed rolls for engagement with that surface of the sole to which the fluid has been applied.

16; In a machine of the class described, in combination, fluid-applying devices, feed rolls for advancing a sole toward said devices, and a pair of'resilient guide members spaced apart and located in advance of said rolls for guiding and centering a sole as the latter'is presented to the bite of the rolls.

17. In a sole-coloring machine, in combiand means interposed between said device and said feeding means to prevent spattering of fluid upon the latter.

18. In a machine of the class described, in combination, a fluid-applying brush, a set of feed rolls, a pivoted gate member interposed between said brush and one of said rolls, and spring means normally maintaining said gate member in closed position.

19. In a sole coloring machine, in combination, a fluid-applying device, means for gripping and moving a shoe sole into fluidreceiving contact with said device, an adjustably supported guard member interposed between said applying device and gripping means and having one edge portion thereof slightly spaced from the path of movement of the sole, and a gate member normally positioned across the path of movement of the sole and resting against said edge portion of the guardmember but movable automatically out of the path of movement of the sole by contact of the latter therewith.

20. In a sole coloring machine, in combination, a bracket, a pivotal support therefor, a shaft journaled in said bracket, a color applying device rotatably connected to said shaft, a drive shaft, and means for main taining a constant driving connection between said shafts in all positions of pivotal adjustment of said bracket, said means comprising speed reducing elements.

21. In a machine of the class described, a fluid applying device, a fluid reservoir, and means comprising hooks and cooperating pins to sustain said reservoir in position to feed fluid therefrom to said applying de vice.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

FRJED A. REARDON. 

